"Kid, you're pushing it!"
Right after Charlie made his order, a Thing-like figure in the tavern's corner slammed the table and stood.
Pointing a rocky finger at Charlie, his face was full of anger.
"I'm not drinking turtle egg juice!"
Charlie turned, eyeing the clearly non-Earth creature, and raised an eyebrow. "I'm treating you. You don't have to drink."
Thing: "…"
"But we want to see you drink."
A Squidward-like figure beside Thing stood, sneering. "I've had it with you Earthlings. If you don't finish what you ordered, I'll heh you!"
He waggled the grotesque tentacles around his face, smirking evilly.
"Wow, so evil!!"
Charlie feigned shock.
Seeing someone dare challenge Spider-Man, Old Steve and Fat Thor exchanged glances, while Totem Steve had already slipped away.
After all, running into this guy meant getting lost.
As for the tavern's patrons, some who knew Old Steve whispered among themselves, while "kind" folks warned Thing's crew.
"Hey, do you know who they are?" Gamora asked softly from the next table.
Thing blinked. "Should I?"
Squidward sneered. "Just Earth's Captain and his little sidekick. I could take a hundred of those!"
"You might be stuck fighting them all day," Rocket Raccoon quipped nearby.
"He's Spider-Man," Mantis said earnestly, trying to persuade them. "I can feel they're very interested in your tentacles."
At that, Squidward felt his scalp tingle.
They want to eat me?
Squidward fumed. "Bastards, no one's eyeing my meat!!"
"Yaaaah, I'll kill him!!"
He grabbed a hammer and charged at Charlie.
Behind him, Thing was still clueless.
"What's a Spider-Man?" he asked Gamora.
Gamora was surprised. "You don't know him?"
Thing shook his head. "My village doesn't have cosmic Wi-Fi."
Everyone: "…"
Country bumpkins.
Bang!
"NO~~"
The next moment, Squidward's scream echoed through the tavern. His tentacles were engulfed in strange flames, and the aroma of grilled meat filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
"Smells… too good." Thing was tempted by the rich scent.
As for the screaming Squidward, after his tentacles were sliced off, Fat Thor grabbed him and tossed him into his private liquor cabinet.
Spider-Man didn't eat aliens, but Thor had no such qualms.
He'd heard Squidward-star meat was tasty and planned to try it later.
Meanwhile, Charlie flicked his fingers, and the roasted tentacles landed in bowls on Gamora's group's table.
"Forget those bugs. This is more nutritious," Charlie grinned.
Gamora and her crew exchanged looks before approaching Charlie.
"I've heard your stories, invincible Spider-Man," Gamora said seriously.
Charlie shrugged. "Good. Can you tell me about this place?"
Before Gamora could answer, Old Steve looked exasperated.
"Little Spider, you could've asked me."
Charlie glanced at him. "Look at you, bar-hopping all day. What would you know?"
Old Steve: "…"
"You could've asked me," Fat Thor said.
Charlie side-eyed him. "Talk when you're sober."
Fat Thor: "…"
Damn Strange, that beer magic hurts both body and pride.
Gamora glanced at the two, then told Charlie: "A strange force pulled us into this unknown world. Before we arrived, others came here too."
Charlie nodded. "I sensed it. Go on."
Gamora continued: "We met a weird group on the way. They claimed the truth we seek is nearby, so we came."
Rocket Raccoon grumbled beside her: "This birdless, eggless dump is crap. If I find out who dragged us here, I'll shove their head in Spider-Man's pants and kick it boom—ow ow ow~"
Before Rocket finished cursing, Mantis covered his mouth.
Cussing with Spider-Man's name? Seeking death!!
Charlie ignored Rocket's profanity and asked Gamora: "Anything else?"
Gamora shook her head. "That's all we know, but yesterday I saw Chitauri soldiers nearby…"
Her face paled.
"I suspect it's him," she said with certainty.
"Him?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow, knowing who she meant.
Only one person could terrify Gamora like that: Thanos.
Sure enough, as Gamora spoke, dense figures flashed outside the tavern window.
Bang!
The tavern door was kicked open violently, and Chitauri soldiers aimed their weapons at everyone inside.
"It's Thanos!"
The crowd panicked, Gamora and her crew instinctively hiding behind Charlie.
"Spider-Man, protect me!" Rocket clung to Charlie's leg.
Charlie's mouth twitched. "You're hugging my leg. How can I protect you?"
Hearing this, Rocket's gaze slowly drifted upward.
Charlie shuddered, quickly shaking off the creepy raccoon.
He looked at the armed Chitauri, who showed no intent to fire. His eyes flashed red, and before they could scream, the soldiers turned to ash.
Whoosh~~
A gust scattered the ashes, leaving Gamora and the others in awe.
It was their first time seeing how terrifying the legendary invincible Spider-Man was.
They'd only heard stories before.
As the Chitauri vanished, a purple, hulking figure appeared in their view.
"It's really him!"
Seeing Thanos, hatred flared in Gamora's eyes.
Thanos ignored her, walking into the tavern and giving Charlie a faint smile.
"You're back."
"Yep."
Charlie nodded, sensing the Cosmic Cube's aura emanating from Thanos.
How'd this guy get here too?
He waved casually. "Back to your old ways?"
Thanos sat beside Charlie, saying to Fat Thor: "A whiskey, please."
Fat Thor rolled his eyes and headed to the kitchen. "We don't sell whiskey here."
Clearly, he didn't want to deal with him either.
Thanos didn't mind, chuckling briefly before looking at Charlie.
"Just a welcome ceremony, but you've gotten stronger."
Charlie shrugged. "Your welcome ceremony's unique."
Sipping his juice, he suddenly said: "You seem different."
Thanos squinted, smiling. "Because I have a new goal."
"Avenging David?" Charlie asked.
Thanos thought. "David can wait."
Charlie: "…"
Good grief, forgetting so fast.
Worthy of a cosmic overlord who's hung out with Spider-Man!
With that, he asked: "So, what's your new goal?"
Thanos took a deep breath, looking out at the gray sky.
"Taking down that guy."
"Hm?"
Charlie followed Thanos's gaze. In the gray sky, a massive demonic skull formed from countless cosmic particles.
The moment it appeared, everything around twisted in distorted space, consumed by the demon.
In seconds, the gray sky was shrouded in darkness. Two green flames flickered in the skull's eyes, and endless fear swept down, making everyone in the tavern feel their souls tremble.
As if the next moment, they'd be devoured by darkness, their souls trapped forever.
"What's that?" Charlie looked at it with interest.
Thanos grinned. "Galactus, my target this time."
"Uncle G?"
Charlie was surprised. "His effects are kinda lame, huh?"
Thanos shook his head. "This is just a fraction of his power."
"Alright."
Charlie stood, cracking his knuckles. "Then I'll—"
Before he finished, Thanos raised a hand, summoning a blue cube.
Hum~
BOOM!!
Instantly, the tavern was transported to a shattered planet. Yellow dust buried ruins where massive skeletal remains rose, their six indented head sockets glowing with starlight. Dead Celestials gained new life, but their master was now Thanos.
With the Cosmic Cube, Thanos could absolutely do this.
Clearly, he'd hunted plenty of mature Celestials before this.
Under the assault of the Celestial remains, the demonic skull retreated, soon obliterated by the Cosmic Cube's power.
When it was done, everyone returned to the tavern.
As if the scene had been a dream.
But they knew it wasn't.
Their gazes toward Thanos were filled with deep fear.
Gamora was utterly hopeless.
No way to beat him, no way at all.
Wait, this Thanos wasn't her problem.
Right, that's it.
With that, Gamora suppressed her hatred, quietly listening to Thanos and Spider-Man's conversation.
"Done." Thanos retracted the Cosmic Cube's power.
Charlie, who saw it all, smiled slightly. "Not bad power."
Thanos looked deeply at Charlie. "Up for a round?" A spark of battle lust flickered in his eyes.
Charlie just rolled his eyes, not taking the bait.
"You've finally regained your confidence. I can't ruin your good mood."
Thanos chuckled, taking it as an excuse to avoid a fight.
Indeed, with the Cosmic Cube's power, his confidence was sky-high.
He was the cosmic overlord again.
The multiverse's overlord!
Confident, Thanos said to Charlie: "This incident involves the Beyonders. I'll take you to meet someone who knows everything."
"Who?" Charlie asked casually.
Thanos smiled, a dreamy grin.
"My goddess."
"What?"
Charlie spat out his juice.
He looked at Thanos in disbelief. "Your goddess?"
"Yes, my goddess."
"You sure it's that kind of goddess?"
"Of course."
Thanos was dead serious, sparking Charlie's curiosity.
Someone who could sway Thanos like that? Must be something else.
…
Ten minutes later, Thanos led Charlie and Old Steve to a cliff thousands of miles away.
At the cliff's peak, a skull throne symbolizing death floated high.
On the throne, the noble and stunning Death sat, quietly gazing at the half-kneeling Thanos.
Then her gaze shifted to Spider-Man.
"Spider-Man, I've been watching you for a long time."
The moment Death spoke, Thanos's heart jolted.
The goddess had been watching Spider-Man for a long time?
Damn it, that means I…
Thanos clenched his fists, uneasy and unwilling.
Had the goddess fallen for Spider-Man?
Damn it, what had he done?
He'd brought his rival here.
What a mistake!!
Thanos went mad.
The dog beside Death laughed.
"Yes, yes, Lady Goddess, I told you Spider-Man's great. He's my idol; you should pay more attention to him." Wade, crouching and sticking out his tongue, earnestly promoted his idol.
Charlie almost didn't recognize him.
"You…"
He glanced at the dog collar around Wade's neck, his face darkening.
"Wade, congrats on evolving into… a lapdog." That's all he could say.
After all, he could tell Wade was actually happy, not forced.
Wade bounced in place, tongue out.
"Ha~ Ha~ Idol, I'm so thrilled to see you! Come over, let's be the goddess's doggos together. You're more suited than me; your powers can sense—"
"Shut up!!"
Charlie's face turned green, cutting Wade off.
When would these bad gags end?!
He glanced at the kneeling Thanos, eyes narrowing.
"You're disappointing me. David would be even more disappointed."
Thanos looked indifferent. "I've found my dream. David would be happy for me."
He offered the demonic skull with both hands.
"This is Galactus's power. Please accept it, my goddess."
"You…"
Seeing Thanos's lapdog act, Charlie fumed.
"What a sin!!"
He gritted his teeth, stomped, and turned to the lofty Death.
"You've got one song's time to drop your charm, or I'll—"
"Spider-Man, don't be rude to the goddess!"
Thanos was furious. "You'll make her unhappy!"
Charlie: "…"
"Aaaah, I'm going crazy!!"
Charlie lost it, punching Thanos to the ground, his eyes blazing with crimson Omega Beams surging into Thanos's eyes.
"Wake up, wake up~~"
Omega Beams poured out, the Anti-Life Equation probing the straw in this guy's head.
He wanted to see what was wrong with him.
But soon, he retracted the beams.
Thanos rubbed his eyes, standing angrily. "What are you doing? If my eyes go blind, the goddess will never accept me—"
"Go to hell!"
Charlie punched him down again.
The Anti-Life Equation found no trace of control. What a headache.
"You're beyond saving."
He spat at Thanos, turning to face the amused Death. "Song's time is up. Decided yet?"
"Not yet," Wade whispered.
Charlie snorted. "I meant Bebe."
As he spoke, the embryonic domain's aura spread, and for the first time, Death sensed something more intriguing than death.
Madness! Despair!
"This is…?"
Death was stunned.
This feeling was too exquisite!!
In an instant, her eyes locked solely on Spider-Man.
She wanted to laugh loudly, unrestrained.
Hahaha~~ Hahaha~~
As Death laughed, her death rule power erupted unintentionally, and Wade, closest to her, rolled his eyes and collapsed.
He died, then lived again.